Two is better than one, so organizations are adopting the hybrid cloud

FOR MOST enterprises, the first step towards digital transformation is to embrace the cloud.

With the volume of data to be processed daily, the cloud is a godsend. Businesses no longer need to rely solely on in-house data centers to store data.

Instead, they have the option of transferring it to a central data processing center on the cloud. Ultimately, what the cloud offers is a solution for fast computing, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.

Based on their unique needs, organizations can choose to deploy either a public or a private cloud. However, as users gain cloud maturity, there is a tendency to move into hybrid cloud landscapes.

The hybrid cloud is simply the cloud architecture formed when separate public and private clouds interconnect and work together. Regardless of size, corporations are leaning towards the hybrid cloud, and for good reason.

# 1 | Unparalleled flexibility

Different cloud platforms have varying strengths and weaknesses. With hybrid clouds, organizations can leverage on both the public and private clouds to accommodate their diverse needs.

Certain workloads can be migrated onto the cloud, and sensitive data can be kept on-premises. Working on different platforms also allows data is to be accessible to all parties, including off-premises customers.

Further, because cloud services are often on a pay-as-you-go basis, it can be scaled according to an organization’s needs. Thus, hybrid clouds offer flexibility and scalability without the need to fully migrate to a cloud.

# 2 | Optimized costs and enhanced security

Storing data on-premises or in private clouds can be costly. It requires high maintenance with limited storage space. Because security measures are high, organizations would also need to go the extra mile to ensure data is accessible to all involved.

Public clouds, on the other hand, are cheaper, with ample storage space, but sometimes create security lapses.

Thus, a hybrid cloud platform can offer improved security posture as sensitive IT workloads can be run in private clouds, while regular workloads run on inexpensive public cloud infrastructure as a trade-off for cost investments.

It must be noted, however, that the hybrid cloud is not for everyone.

Choosing the right cloud deployment model is no easy task, as there are various factors that must be considered. These include government regulations, security, architecture complexity and preventing vendor lock-in.

As an illustration, industries like financial services or healthcare often chose to store data on-premise or in private clouds instead of hybrid cloud platforms due to security concerns and tight regulatory requirements.